The most popular Silksong mods tone down Team Cherry’s cruelty, and this Elden Ring-inspired solution to ridiculous boss runbacks makes a very fair point

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Silksong is extremely challenging, with its intense gameplay leading to much debate about how it compares to the original game and how tough it can seem for players. Notably, many player-created mods for Silksong aim to lower its difficulty, and one creator’s approach to the game’s notorious boss re-attempts is particularly noteworthy.

According to Nexus Mods rankings, 12 (or potentially 14) out of the top 15 most popular Silksong mods currently available aim to make gameplay less challenging. They achieve this by introducing new features, providing players with additional resources, or even bypassing specific systems. This variation can extend from complete invulnerability to a decrease in incoming damage. Modder Kassent’s “Stakes of Marika – Rebirth Anywhere” mod falls somewhere in the middle in terms of its power level.

The “quality-of-life” modification for Silksong aims to minimize the frequent return trips, which are lengthy stretches between the nearest respawn point and the difficulty you’re attempting to overcome, by introducing a concept similar to that found in Elden Ring.

To accommodate Elden Ring’s expansive game world, developer FromSoftware strategically placed rest stops called Stakes of Marika as intermediate checkpoints. Upon death, you could respawn at these locations, significantly closer than the closest Site of Grace would allow. However, unlike regular checkpoints, you couldn’t use these spots to level up, replenish supplies, or adjust your equipment. Their purpose was primarily to expedite challenging sections, allowing players to quickly retry difficult encounters such as this specific boss battle.

Kassent’s Anywhere Rebirth mod operates in much the same way: “Upon dying within a scene, you’ll be revived at the scene’s entrance rather than at a distant bench. This is useful for swiftly tackling repeated challenges. Moreover, you have the ability to set custom respawn points within scenes – upon death, you will be brought back to the spot you specified.

This feature isn’t limited to only boss encounters; it’s beneficial in various situations due to its flexibility, allowing you to place a checkpoint anywhere you desire. However, positioning checkpoints closer to the boss seems to be the most practical application. It appears that many players anticipate replaying a level until they can comfortably pass it. The repetition of running through a pre-boss obstacle course before getting to the boss, which some individuals may find tedious, might be the source of frustration for several users.

This feature works in multiple scenarios since you can place a checkpoint wherever you want. Although positioning checkpoints near the boss is useful, it seems that making the level easier by having closer checkpoints is more important to players. Many people like to replay levels until they’ve mastered them. Some users have found it irritating to have to run through a challenging pre-boss area repeatedly when all they really want to focus on is defeating the boss itself.

After approximately 22 hours into playing Silksong, I’ve navigated through most of the map, though I’m not entirely sure if that’s true. However, I’ve encountered several lengthy boss runbacks, and one in particular stands out as particularly frustrating. This section required me to replay a challenging platforming part teeming with hazardous creatures, which I believe is one of the most irritating elements Team Cherry has ever created. I’m not advocating for a checkpoint modification or anything; I’m simply expressing my gratitude towards games like Lies of P, which released a tough DLC this year, for keeping boss runbacks to a minimum.

Kassent’s modification for Hollow Knight: Silksong ranks as the 10th most popular on Nexus Mods in terms of downloads. Interestingly, some players argue that it simplifies the game excessively by eliminating the need for non-boss runbacks, an essential aspect of the gaming experience.

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2025-09-08 20:40